Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

Most of us have the ability to feel and show compassion to others, it is part of what makes us human. However, many of us have difficulty showing and feeling compassion towards ourselves. We often operate a double standard, judging ourselves much more harshly than others in a similar position.

Developed by Professor Paul Gilbert at Derby University as a method of helping people with shame-based problems, Compassion Focused Therapy combines techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with modern neuroscience, evolutionary and social psychology and concepts from ancient Buddhist philosophy. Compassion Focused Therapy is a particularly appropriate therapy option for people with problematic patterns of cognition and emotion caused by anger, anxiety, shame and self-criticism which can lead to relationship and other difficulties. The root of the problem often lies in a history of abuse, bullying, neglect or lack of affection. Compassion Focused Therapy uses compassionate mind training, teaching the skills and attributes of compassion, to help the individual feel safe and secure in their relationships with themselves and others.

How We Use Compassion Focused Therapy

With Compassionate Mind Training, we try to help people see where their critical thoughts come from, examine whether these are justified and help people be less critical about themselves. As the origins of unjustified self-criticism may stem from early childhood experiences, they are often lodged in the part of the brain that deals mainly with emotional feelings. We work with this part of the brain as well as the logical, thinking part to work on information that is stored as physical and emotional feelings as well as thoughts.

Changing the way the brain works can take some time, but will be very worthwhile. Compassion Focused Therapy uses techniques such as Mindfulness, meditation and imagery techniques to help encourage new connections and circuits between the different parts of the brain responsible for different impulses and sensations.

At The Cotswold Centre For Trauma Healing our therapists will tailor Compassion Focused Therapy to each client’s specific needs and requirements and, based on their years of therapeutic experience, often combine this approach with other therapeutic modalities such as aspects of Schema Therapy, CBT, EMDR and other body-oriented approaches to achieve the best results.

Client Testimonials

Health Professional

“I want to thank you so much for helping me to recover and heal from my traumas over the last two years… …for teaching me how to tune in to my body and to hear what it is saying to me. I want to thank you for teaching me that my feelings and my emotions are valid – this has changed my life.” –

Project Leader, Health Sector

“I feel substantially stronger and more confident since starting therapy at ODC, and my sense of self has expanded to see my experiences and feelings as understandable and ‘ordered’, not a series of meaningless sufferings under the umbrella term of ‘disorder’. It has meant so much to me to be able to express my spiritual side during treatment, and for this component to be such a powerful and real tool in my gradual healing.” –

Emergency Service Professional

“There was a stage when people asked me “can you see the light at the end of the tunnel”, I would always answer, “I’m not even at the tunnel yet’. It does feel like that when you don’t know where to turn, who to ask or when you don’t even recognise what you’re actually suffering from. I’ve now been through the tunnel. There is light at the end of it. Thank you Claudia.”
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Recent client seeking help overcoming bereavement

“The loss of my mum was one of the main factors of me coming to you. That and the pending divorce! Mum’s death was like a time bomb going off… …We figured it out together and I put the floating jigsaw pieces of experience/emotion/feeling together to create a clear picture. It made sense to me. And that was key. Thank you Charlie” –

Client who was recommended to visit us

“Adrian helped me a lot through therapy, to better get in touch with myself, to love and accept the person I am. He helped me take control over my life, gave me the tools to live a more peaceful and happy life. And most importantly, he helped me find what I have been for so long looking for, the light at the end of the tunnel.” –

Commissioning Editor

“I can now confidently walk around town, go to new places and meet new people without any issues. I can honestly say that, without this therapy, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. There is no way I could have done this on my own – thank you Claudia for helping me find myself again.” –

Client seeking help recovering from a bike accident

“A big thank you to Claudia for all the help you have given me. After being knocked off my bike two years ago I didn’t think I would be able to get on my bike again but you have helped me so much. A definite miracle worker. Thank you so much!”
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Script writer, Producer, Director

“The feeling that these requirements all came together enabled me to work really hard in treatment, and with Claudia’s help I made great progress. I became empowered to deal with the past and this improved the present; as I gained greater control over my life and my decisions, the future became less frightening. Even without her, I shall continue to work along these lines. I regard meeting and working with her as one of the most valuable gifts life has yet brought me.” –

Events Organizer and Dedicated Mother

I would like you to know you have affected my life in a way I never thought possible, the pain that rises from the deepest, darkest places of my body can literally take my breath away but I am learning to breathe and feel, letting the tears flow without being afraid. –

CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY

At The Cotswold Centre For Trauma Healing we understand and respect our clients’ right to complete confidentiality. All records and communications are covered by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (May 2018). Read more about our Privacy Policy. The Oxford Development Centre follows the code of conduct of the Health & Care Professions Council.